AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U vs Intel Core i5-11500 Comparison

The Intel Core i5-11500 and AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U are both six-core, twelve-thread processors, but they target entirely different platforms and generations. The data shows a near-perfect tie in overall average benchmark score—23718 for the Intel and 23709 for the AMD—placing both at the 76th percentile of all CPUs. Despite this statistical dead heat, their performance profiles diverge sharply across individual workloads, making the choice between them a matter of matching the silicon to the task rather than picking an outright winner.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U dominates the benchmark suite, taking 15 of the 17 head-to-head tests. Its wins span nearly every category: Cinebench rendering, PassMark multithreading, physics simulation, encryption, extended instructions, prime number finding, floating-point math, random string sorting, and single-threaded performance. The AMD chip leads by substantial margins in several areas—most notably a 22.7% advantage in finding prime numbers and a 16.3% edge in physics calculations. It also wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, R23, both single and multi-core) by a consistent 6.1% margin.

The Intel Core i5-11500 wins exactly two tests, both in PassMark: data compression (210796 vs 205703, a 2.5% lead) and integer math (58352 vs 56738, a 2.8% lead). These are narrow but real victories, suggesting the Intel architecture retains an edge in specific integer-heavy and compression workloads. Notably, the Intel also wins the overall average benchmark comparison by a hair—23718 vs 23709—which is essentially a rounding error but technically puts it ahead in the aggregate.

The practical takeaway: the AMD chip is the general-purpose performer, while the Intel chip has a narrow specialization in compression and integer arithmetic. For anyone running workloads that hit those two specific PassMark tests, the Intel part is the better choice. For everything else in the data, the AMD is faster.

Architecture Differences

These two CPUs come from different eras and design philosophies. The Intel Core i5-11500 uses the Rocket Lake architecture on a 14 nm process node, manufactured by Intel itself. It has a 276 mm² die size and 6 cores with 12 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U uses Zen 4 architecture on a 4 nm process node from TSMC, with a 137 mm² die and 20,900 million transistors. The process node difference alone—14 nm vs 4 nm—explains much of the efficiency and clock speed gap.

Clock speeds tell a clear story. The Intel has a 2.70 GHz base clock and 4.60 GHz boost clock, while the AMD runs at 3.20 GHz base and 4.90 GHz boost. The AMD's higher clocks contribute directly to its single-threaded wins. The TDP difference is stark: the Intel draws 65W, while the AMD is rated at just 28W. This makes the AMD a mobile-class part (Socket FP7) versus the Intel's desktop-class Socket 1200.

Cache hierarchies differ substantially. The Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, a larger 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3. The AMD's larger L2 and L3 caches help explain its lead in memory-sensitive workloads. Memory support also diverges: the Intel uses DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD uses DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth—a 75% theoretical bandwidth advantage for the AMD. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not.

PCIe lanes differ, with the Intel offering 20 Gen 4 lanes versus the AMD's 14 Gen 4 lanes. Integrated graphics also differ: the Intel packs UHD Graphics 750, while the AMD has Radeon 740M. The Intel launched in March 2021 with a $192 MSRP and is now end-of-life, while the AMD launched in April 2024 and remains active in production. Neither chip has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The most consistent pattern across the head-to-head results is the AMD's uniform 6.1% lead in Cinebench. In R15 multi-core, the AMD scores 1557 against Intel's 1462; in R15 single-core, 219 vs 206. R20 multi-core shows 6491 vs 6095, and R20 single-core shows 916 vs 860. R23 multi-core shows 15456 vs 14513, and R23 single-core shows 2182 vs 2049. These are all the same 6.1% delta, indicating a consistent architectural advantage in rendering workloads.

PassMark results show more variance. The AMD's largest win comes in find prime numbers, where it scores 66 against Intel's 51—a 22.7% blowout. Physics also favors the AMD heavily: 983 vs 823, a 16.3% lead. Single-threaded performance gives the AMD a 12.1% edge (3563 vs 3131), and data encryption shows a 14% AMD lead (12319 vs 10592). These are the tests where the Zen 4 architecture's efficiency and higher clocks really show.

The Intel's two wins are close but meaningful. In data compression, the Intel scores 210796 against AMD's 205703—a 2.5% lead. In integer math, the Intel scores 58352 against AMD's 56738—a 2.8% lead. These wins suggest that Rocket Lake's integer execution units and compression algorithms are still competitive despite the older process node. In extended instructions, floating-point math, and random string sorting, the AMD wins by single-digit margins (1.9%, 1.3%, and 1.2% respectively), indicating near-parity in those areas.

The Verdict

The data points to a clear recommendation for most users: the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U is the stronger processor. It wins 15 of 17 benchmarks, often by double-digit margins, while consuming less than half the power (28W vs 65W). Its 6.1% lead across all Cinebench tests, 14% lead in encryption, and 22.7% lead in prime number calculation make it the better choice for rendering, scientific computing, and security workloads. The consistent single-threaded advantage (12.1% in PassMark, 6.1% in Cinebench R23) also makes it the better pick for everyday responsiveness and lightly-threaded applications.

The Intel Core i5-11500 is only the right choice for a narrow set of use cases. Its 2.5% data compression lead and 2.8% integer math lead are real, and the aggregate average score is technically higher (23718 vs 23709). For a desktop builder specifically running compression benchmarks or integer-heavy calculations, the Intel part delivers. It also offers more PCIe lanes (20 vs 14), which could matter for expansion-heavy desktop builds. However, given that the AMD wins the overall average score comparison is essentially a tie, and the AMD wins almost every practical workload, the Intel's specialization is hard to justify unless the specific workload matches.

The platform difference is decisive. The Intel is a 65W desktop part on Socket 1200, while the AMD is a 28W mobile part on Socket FP7. These are not interchangeable—the choice is also a choice of form factor. For a desktop system, the Intel is the only option that fits. For a mobile or compact design, the AMD is the only option. If the form factor allows either, the AMD's superior performance-per-watt and benchmark dominance make it the obvious pick.

FAQ

Q: Which CPU has a higher single-threaded performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U wins single-threaded tests by 6.1% in Cinebench R23 (2182 vs 2049) and by 12.1% in PassMark single-thread (3563 vs 3131).

Q: Does the Intel Core i5-11500 win any benchmarks?

A: Yes, the Intel wins two PassMark tests: data compression (210796 vs 205703, a 2.5% lead) and integer math (58352 vs 56738, a 2.8% lead).

Q: What is the biggest performance gap between the two?

A: The largest delta is in PassMark find prime numbers, where the AMD scores 66 versus Intel's 51—a 22.7% advantage for the AMD.

Q: How do their TDPs compare?

A: The Intel Core i5-11500 has a 65W TDP, while the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U has a 28W TDP. The AMD consumes less than half the power.

Q: Do both CPUs support the same memory type?

A: No. The Intel supports DDR4 with 51.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD supports DDR5 with 89.6 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD also supports ECC memory, which the Intel does not.

Q: What are the cache sizes for each processor?

A: The Intel has 80 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. The AMD has 64 KB L1 per core, 1 MB L2 per core, and 16 MB shared L3.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i5-11500 | AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 8540U |

|---|---|---|

| Process Node | 14 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die Size | 276 mm² | 137 mm² |

| Transistors | Not specified | 20,900 million |

| Base Clock | 2.70 GHz | 3.20 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 4.60 GHz | 4.90 GHz |

| TDP | 65 W | 28 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1200 | AMD Socket FP7 |

| L1 Cache | 80 KB (per core) | 64 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 512 KB (per core) | 1 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 12 MB (shared) | 16 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR4 | DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 51.2 GB/s | 89.6 GB/s |

| ECC Memory | No | Yes |

| PCIe | Gen 4, 20 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 4, 14 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | UHD Graphics 750 | Radeon 740M |

| Market Segment | Desktop | Mobile |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | 2021-03-15 | 2024-04-15 |

| Launch MSRP | $192 | Not specified |